Dietary habits and the gut microbiota in military Veterans: results from the United States-Veteran Microbiome Project (US-VMP)

ABSTRACT Dietary patterns influence gut microbiota composition. To date, there has not been an assessment of diet and in Veterans, who have a history unique environmental exposures, including military deployment, that may associations between microbiota. Our aim was to characterise Veteran habitual dietary intake quality, evaluate correlations We administered Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) collected stool samples from 330 Veterans. FFQ data were used generate Healthy Eating Indices (HEI) quality. Exploratory factor analysis identify two we defined as “Western” “Prudent.” Stool underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the resulting with variables/indices. Analyses included linear regression α-diversity, constrained principal coordinates β-diversity, multivariate association models Analysis Composition Microbiomes analyses factors phylum- genus-level taxa. There no significant or α- β-diversity. At phylum level, increasing HEI scores inversely associated relative abundance Actinobacteria, added sugar Verrucomicrobia. Veterans largely consumed Western-style diet, characterised by poor adherence nutritional guidelines.